Driving and speed-regulating mechanism for phonographs.



S. R. WCL/NNE. DRIVING AND SPEED REGULPJI'N'G MECHANISNI FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

- APPLlgATfoN FILED luLY I. 191e.

Pyme@ Apr. 3, 191?.

2l SHEETS-SHEET I.

En!! ne? v \`w w l S. a. MACLANE. DRIVING AND SBEED H EGULAHNG MECHANIS'M FOHPHONOGRAPHS. APPLICATKON FILED IULY i'. 1916.

Patented Apr. 3, 12H?.

es aa ,5 ,n

mi2-n" ava-Unete. Coni STANLEY R. MACLANE, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

Application filed July 7. 1916.

lle it known that l. l-i'rax'iiiiy lv. 'li/ieiaxii, :i ritizen ol the liniterl States, ainl a resiileiil o1 Boston, county ot' v'iilollc. and Coininonweallh ol Massarhusetts, have inventeil an Improvement in VDrivingT and Speelt Regulatingllieelianiiuns 'lor Plionogrraphs, of .vhieh the followingy ileseription, in connection \vitli the aeeonipaiiving rh'aivings, is a fipeeilieation` like. eliaraeters on the dran'- ings repreaenting like parts.

rThis iiiveniiou relates to improvements in the phonograph shown in in v eopeiniing apl'ilieation Serial No. 48.727 iileil Septeni her ".2, 1913.

niongiY other olijerls the invention proviilea iiiiproveil means for drivingl the ree-- or l supporting' lalile with a suliritantiallv uniiorin npeeil hetiveen the st vlurs and reeoril throughout the rrproiluetion ol the eoniposition thereon: ineanh` eoiiperatinii' ivith the iliiviir; ineans unil lalile to autoniati enliv arrest the latter on eouipleiioii oi" `thel eoniposition: ainl simple aiiil el'i'eeiive means lo inelieate anni eontrol adjustment oi the ilriviivhT means 'lor playing; siieeessive ree,- orilS.

'The rharae'tier o'l3 the invention may lie, liefst understood liv retereiire lo the followh ingilefieription ot an einhoiliineiit thereoiz illustrating' the invention shown in the ac-v rom]arrivingv drawings. ivliereiinm Figure l is a hori'fzontal Section through a phonograph easingshowing; in plan portions ofthe driving aiul controlling ineeha nism for the table;

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale is :i plan View ot' certain parts shown in Figi'. l;

li" 3 is a View partially in vertical Seononnini partiall.)7 inK side elevation of parts Shown ini Fifi'. 2; :intl

Fig. fi is :i vertical section token on line is mounted a hase plate 3 having' a Shaft' 5 projecting iipivariflly therethrough and adapted to he iiriven h v any Suitable motor' (not shown). i iieaignates a vertical shaft also prnjeet-ing; upivai'il through sani plate and above the easing to reeeivethe usual Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Apr. 3? MM l.

Seria] No4 108,064.

lurutahle tv (shown iii broken lines) for Suppoi-lin;r the reroril` Since the construction thu far ilesirriherl may he similar to that ilisrlosed in in); mid application it is unnereasaiv further to show 'and describe the saine in iletaii herein.

To ih'ive the table ahatt troni the motor shaft at a varyingf speed for the purpose ile iirrilieil. there if. provided :i iai'rier 5) eoniprisinir upper ainl lower circular plates l1 having' aperturen` to alloiv the, driving and ilriven shafts. to project therethrough. These plates are eoniieeted anii lulerunieil on ai post 151' mounted on the hase plato 3 referred to. substantially niiclivziy between saiil shafts. tipools i5 and 17 are niounted tast on shafts lll and 21 journaled iii heaiinns in iiaiii plaies ll.. rthese :shafts project through the lower plates anil present conirnl enilwl @Il (Fig: 23) adapted to aliilein lgrooves` 25 in Haiil hase plaie to contribute to the support ol the Hpoohi as the carrier iii adjusted to initiate the playing of Suc eessive rerorihs, as inore fully hereinafter ileeirrilieil. 'l`he gri-nove 35E may he kept full oi oil. the lower rireuiar plate l Serving :us a eover `for the groove.

The spoolii are eoniieeteil by a flexible transmission ineinher eonveniently in the forni of a thin tape QT oi" eopper or other suit-able material. Une end of this tape aiiehoreii to the spool 'lo at- 29 and the opposite enil of saiil tape is anehoreil to the spool '1.7 at 'l. .llie tape is atliiptec'l to be ivoiind to anil Ylii'oin the spools, and to re- (lure flexion and consequent weakening of the tai i afi niueh. as possible, it is extended hetiveen the spools at one fiiile of the plane o't their axes instead oi' crossing; said plane as in inv anni eopiencliiig application.

To rotate the spools a pinion is inoiinte i 'tast on the driving shaft and a pinion is mounted tast on the driven shaft.. i

gear Si" fast on the Shaft. for spool lfis' adapted to engage either said driving onv gage the driving pinion 33 when the Carrier ioo is shiftedto one position and the pinion 4:3.` 1s adapted to engage the driven pinion 35, when the carrier is shifted to its other position. The provision of the idler pinions enables the spools to be rotated in the same direction, permits the tape to he'stretched between the spools on the same side of the plane of`their axes, and prevents flexing the belt in opposite directions and consequent weakening thereof. s

It will be noted the tabledriving shaft 35 islrotated in the same direction whether driven by the gear of the spool oriby the gear and-a pinion of the spool 17.

Thus the spool and tape transmission is always in readiness to play consecutive records without the necessity of a preliminary rewinding of the tape. v

An important feature of the invention relates to means to prevent the tape from uncoiling and rotating the spools when they are not active in driving the table; to

'- hold the tape taut in readiness for rewinding; and to prevent the spools from rotating while the carrier is shifted after the 'playing of one record .to commence the playing of the next record. This means comprises a lever having lugs 47 intermediate the ends thereof, bent therefrom and fulcrumed on the upper reduced end of a post 49 on the carrier. Adjacent the outer ends of the lever are rollers 51 for engagement with the tape coils when. a Sullicient number have accumulated on the spools. These rollers are journaled on pins in opposedears 53 bent fromand conveniently integral with said lever. Short arms `55 have ends fulcrumed on pins 57 connectl 'ing said ears and extend 'outwardly toward ,the heads of the spools.

j the ends of said lever where they are enlarged and bent thence inward to present brake shoes or feet 59 for engagement with These feet may straddle and be guided by T-eXtensions 61 on said lever. Helical springs 63 tend to lpress the feet 59 outward away from the .spools until limited by the heads of screw y bolts 65, entered through said arms, tapped mesh with the-motor driven pinion 33, and

tno pinion 43 of the .spool 17 in mesh with the table driving pinion The motor driven pinion will rotate the spool 15 in a clockwise direction and wind the tape 27 effective driving radius thereof will pro.

gressively increase while the ell'ective driven radius of the spool 17 will progressively decrease. This change in the ratio of the radii will impart a continuously varying acceleration to the record table and compensate for the reduction in the relative' .speed between the stylus and .record as the former moves radially inward from the outer margin toward the center of the record.

Then a suicient number of coils of tape havel accumulated on the spool 15 the tape will engage the roller 51 adjacent thereto and thereby rock the brake lever in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2l. This will cause the screw holt 65 at the opposite end of the lever to press the feet 59 against the peripheries of the heads of the spool 17 and prevent 95 further rotation of said spool.

In the course of the clockwise rocking of the level', the arm 55 adjacent the spool 15 will be brought into engagement with the stop post 69 adjacent thereto, thereby rocking said arm in a contraclockwise direction and pressing its feet against said spool to arrest the same. Thus 'both spools will be secimly held-against rotation for the purposes referred to.

When the carrier is shifted to bring the spools into position for rotation in an opposite direction, the coils of tape will accumulateon the spool 17 and act on the roller 51 adjacent thereto and press the feet against the spools to arrest the same in a manner similar to that described.

At tlie commencement of the 'clockwise ,rotation of the spool 15 to unwind the tape prevent them from impeding the rotation thereof during the playing of a record. The spring-pressed arms co-act with the stop posts G9 to hold the brake lever in a neutral position throughout the playing of a record.

Next will be described means coperating with the spools and the record table for automatically stopping the latter on the completion of the playing'of a record. To 'accomplish this there are provided rollers T1 journaled on pins 73 on tarriers 75 fulcrumed on pins 'Z7 on the hase plate 3 referred to. Cam shal'f 7D are mounted on 5 these carriers intermediate said rollers and pins 77, and are adapted to engage the free ends 0f spring' arms 81 tast on shafts 83 projecting through said plate. One oit these Yshaitts has a lever 85 fast tl'lereon j nojecting jpg, mitward and thence upward to a point heyond the periphery ot' the record supporting :table 8S (indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2). At the end of this lever is a shoe 89 harina a leather face to engage the periphery oi the table, .said shoe being carried by a stud 91 tapped into the upturned endet' said lever and held hy an adjusting nut 93. The shoe is urged inward toward the table by a helical spring 9e encircling said stud. The

2o other shaft 83 referred to. is connected to the lever 85 hy a lever A helical spring 97 connected to said levers and to ay fixed pin 99, tends to shift the shoe 89 away from the tahle.

lll/*hen the carrier is in its position shown in FigL :25 the spool 15 will he adjacent one of the rollers 71, and as the coils of tape accumnlate on said spool they will canse the tape to approach and finally engage and7 3o press said roller outward. This will rock "the carrier tor said roller in a contracloclt- IWise direction and cause its `eccentric shaft i9 to press on the spring` arm 81 and rock lthe lever 85 also in a contraclockwisedirection. rl`his will draw the shoe 8!) inward against the periphery of the tahle and arrest the latter. The tension on the spring arm S1 will increase as the roller 71. moved ont- Ward from the spool and increase the pressur-e o' the shoe 89 against the table. rlhe eccentric shait 79 andthe nut 93 may he adjustedto vary the tension oi' the springs 81 and Sie as required. i

lf'llhen the carrier is shifted to bring the 'as spool 17 adjacent the other roller 71, it will rock its carrier in a clockwise direction and the lever 95 in a similar direction. and again press the shoe 89 against the table to arrest the same in a manner similar to that just 5,0 described. 1

The stop will continue to hold the table vstatioiialy until the carrier is shifted to nieve one or the other of the spdols 15 and 11T/ away from the rollers 71 to commence the playing of the next record. rll`his adjustment of the carrier will render the spring 97 ell'ective to shiit the shoe 89 away from the table.

'lhe brakes for the spools should he adse justed to delay arrest ot1 the latter until after the coils ot tape have accumulated thereon sntiiciently to stop the talole.l

To contribute to the retention oit the tape 'onthe spools, post 101 may he provided on es the carrie@ adjacentthe spools opposite the theretrmn 'a button 1231 on the brakes referred to. Rollers 1025 on these posts may project hetwecn thel heads ot the spools and thereby `prevent the tape 'troni springing outward beyond the pcripheries of said heads.

To indicate the two positions o'l the. carricr for the spools` a Ylollower 105 may be provided fulrrumed intermediate its cndson a shaft 10T' projecting through the hase Plate. This follower has an cud 10) t'or cngagement with the tape wound on thcspool l5 and an end 111 tor engagement with the tape wound on the spool 1T. .in arm lll is curved upward trom said Yl'ollower and thence over thc same and apertured to receive the shatt 10i'. An arm 115 projecting connected by a rod 11T (Fig. 1) with an arm 11S) o1 an index lever loose-ly pivoted on a crank sha tt 121. the ,upper end of which is journahal in a dial plate 12?) set in an aperture in the top ol'v the casing. This dial plate has a pair of holes 12:3 and 12'( therein and the index lever has an arm 12S) offset somewhat trom the lincol the arm 119 of said lever. A hutton 129 on the arm 119 is adapted to register with the hole 125. and arm 12S) is adapted to register with the hole 1,27.

The lever including th'e arms 11S) and 129 is adapted tolle rocked in the course of the zncumulation oi the coils on the spools to shift said huttons alternately into registration with their holes. thereby indicating the adjustment necessari7 to shift the spool carrier to play the next record. To rock the carrier it is dircrtlv connected by a rod 133 iwith a crank 1255 tast on tht` shaft 121 re tei-red to. .'\n index arm 1335 is mounted tast on. said sha'lt ahove the dial plate and provided with a handle 13T.

llelerring to ilig. l. it will he ohscrred the.

carrier is adjusted to a position in which the spool 1T is driven by the motor driven Apinion, and through the transmission tape is rotating tin` spool 1T to drive the table-actin ating pinion. 'lho 'follower end 111 is en gaging the tape on the spool 17. .is the coils ot tape accumulato on said spool, the'iollower will he rocked in ay clockwise direction, (Fig. 1)9 and acting through the rod 117 will gradually shit't the button 12E) out of registration with its hole and hriiig the button 131 into registration with its hole 127. This indicates that in order to play the next record the index arm should he turned until it points to the rotate the shaft 121 and through the rod 133 will roch' the carrier from its -position shown in Fig. 1 to its position shown in Fig. 2.

As stated, as soon as the carrier is shifted it will release the table stop, and hence the index arm will serve to shift the carrier and start the rotation of 'the table to play the.

record. l

The carrier, spools and gears interposed hut-ton 131. This will driving shaft, constitute a transmission unit appropriate for rotating the table to play a i'ecord of a -predetermined size. In order that the machine may have the capacity for playing records of other sizes, similarsuitable transmission units may be provided aecording to the number to be used. These units maybe arranged in superposed relation as shown in my said application. Since these additional units may be similar to the unit described i-t is unnecessary to show them herein.

Each of these units would be provided with a carrier and a follower adapted to be connected to the index control as in the case of fthe unitdescribed herein. The followers for the several superposed units may all be fulc'rumed on the same shaft 107 in nested arrangement to provide a compact assembly as shown in Figs. and 4. Three such followers are shown herein including a follower 130 directly beneath the follower 105 and a follower 141 directly beneath the follower 139. The follower 130 has ai. arm 143 pro-` jecting upward parallel to the shaft 107 and bent inward to overlie the arm 113 of the follower 105. The follower 141 has an arm 145 extending upward parallel to the shaft 107 and bent inward to overlie the arm 148 of the follower 139. By this construction and arrangement, the followers occupy a minimum space and may be directly connected to the index arm without obstructing er interfering with the operation of the other parts of the mechanism.

Having described one illustrative embodiment of the invention without limiting the same thereto, what I claim as new and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent is: f

1. In a phonograph, the combination with a motor driven shaft of a table driving shaft, and transmission means connecting them including a carrier, spools thereon, and a flexible tape extending between said spools at the same side of their axes. i

2. In a phonograph, the combination with a motor driven shaftpf a table driving shaft,

and transmission means connecting them including a carrier, rotativeelements thereon, v and a flexible .transmission member connecting said :elements adapted to be wound to and from said elements on the same side of their axes.

3. In a'phonograplnthe combination With driving and driven shafts of transmission means connecting the same including a c'arrier, rotative elements mounted thereon, and

a flexible member connecting said elements for driving one from and in thesame direction as the other.

4. In a phonograph, the combination with driving and driven shafts of transmission means connectin them includin a carrier, spools mounted 4hereon, a flexib e transmission member connecting said spools, and means on said carrier projecting between the heads of said spools to limit outward movement of the coils of said member wound thereon.

In a phonograph, the combinationwith driving and driven shafts of transmission means therefor including a carrier comprising spaced plates, shafts jouinaled in bearjecting from said carrier into said grooves.

7. In a phonograph, the combination with driving and driven shafts of transmission means therefor including a carrier, rotative elements mounted thereon, a fiexible transmission member -connecting and adapted lo be wound to and from said elements, a support, and shafts for said elements having end thrust engagement with said support.

8. In a phonograph, the combination with driving and driven gears of a support, av carrier'mounted on said support, rotative clements on. said carrier, a liexible member for rotating either of said elements from the other, shafts for said elements havingr ends for engagement with said support, and means to shift said carrier and slide said shafts along said support to change the direction of rotation of said elements.

, 9. In a phonograph, the combination with drivingand driven shafts of transmission means therefor including a carrier, spools mounted thereon, a {iexible member adapted to be wound to and from said spools, and

means adapted to engage the material wound on either of said spools after a predetermined amount has been wound thereon and having provision for engaging and :irresting both of said spools.

' 10.' In a phonograph, the combination with drivingl and driven elements of transmission .means therefor including a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a flexible transmission member adapted to be wound to and ,from said elements, and a brake for said elements comprising a lever fulci'umed on Said carrier, rollers adjacent the ends of said lever for engagement with the material Wound on the spools, arms pivoted on said lever having feet to engage said elements, s ring means tending to rock said arms away rom said elements`l means on said lever to limit movement ofsaid arms by said springs, and'stops on said carrier to enga ge said arms and press their feet against said elements.

ll. in a phonograph, the combination. with driving and driven elements olf transmission means therefor including ,a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a 'flexible transmission member adaptedv to he wound to and from said element/e, and a brake tor said elements comprising a lever tulcrunled on said carrier having rollers adjacent the ends thereof for engagement with the ac cumulated material on said elements, springpressed'arms on said lever, and stops on said carrier t'or pressingr said arms against said elements. f

i9. ln a phonograph, the combination with driving); and driven elements of' transmission means therefor including a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a Vl'lexil'iletransmission member adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and brake means for said elements comprising a lever iulcrumed on said carrier, a shoe on said lever for en-l gagrement with one of said elements, a roller on said lever tor engagement with the accm'nnlated material on the other element, and a shoe adjacent said roiler for engagement with the element adjacent said roller.

lil. ln a phono-graph, the con'ibination with driving and driven elements ot transmission means therefor including a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a tie. ,le transmission member adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and` brake means fulcrumed on said carrier haringa means ijn'essed oatuf'ard b v the accumulated .material on one ot said elements, and means automatically pressed inward thereby to engage saidelement.

lflf. ln a phonograph, the conihination with driving' and driven elements ot transmission means therefor including); a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a tiexihle transmission member adapted' to he vwound lo and from said elements, and brake means torsaid elements includingn alerer tulcrnmcd on said carrier, bralre shoes, and nieans actu-- ated by the accumulated material on one oit said elements to apply said shoes to both oi said elements.

15. ln a phonograph, the combination with driving and driven elements ol transmission means therefor including` a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a lieaihle transmission memher adapted, to he wound to and from said elements, and brake means for said elements comprising a lerer tulcrumed on said carrier, hralre shoes, and means op catcd hy accumulated material on one oi said elements to shift saidV lever and apply both ol said shoes to said clemente.

lil. ln. a phonograph. the combination with driving and driven elements of transmission means theri'rtor includinnr a carrier, rotative elen'icnts thereon. a iicxihle transmission memhcr adapted to he wound to and from said elements, an'l hralre means li'or said elements comprising a lever tulcrumed on said carrier, brake shoes, stops on said carrier, and means cooperating with one o l said stops and the accunmlated material on one of said elements to apply one ot' said shoes to one ot said elements and shit't said lever to apply the other shoe to the other element.

17. .ln a phonograph, the combination with driving and driven elements ot transmission means therefor including;- a carrier, rotative eiements thereon, a flexible transmission member adapted to he wound to and from said elements, and brake means t'or Said elements comprising a lever iulcrumcd on Said carrier, brake-shoes on said lever, stops on said carrier, and means on vsaid lever coperating with accumulated matcrial on said elements to shit't said shoesagainst said stops andr to apply said shoes to said elements, said stops boing adjust` able to vary the operation ot said shoes.

1S. In a phonograph, the combination with. a motor driven shaft ol a table, a shaft therefor, andtransmission means connecting said shafts including` a carrier, rotative elemcnts thereon, a flexible member adapted to loc Wound to and 'trom said elements, and means cooperating with said table and the accumulated material on said elements t'or automatically arresting said table.

19. In a phonograph, the combination with. a motor driven sha ift ot a table, a, .shaft therefor, and transmission mei ns connecting said shafts includingd a carrier, rotative 10-2 elements thereon, a llexihle memhe adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and means to arrest said table comprising a shatt, a lever tast thereon haring; a springpressed shoe tor engaging; said tablean arm 105 having,` a roller to engage the accumulated material on one of said elements, and a spring member to transmit movement trom said arm to said lever shaft.

20. ln a phonograph, the combination 110 with a motor driven shaft ot' a table, a shaft therefor, and transn'iission means connecting` said shafts including a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a flexible men'iber adapted to he wound to and from said elements, and 115 means automatically to arrest said table comprising` a shaft, a lever Vtast thereon havinel a shoe to engage said table, an arm having` a roller to engage the accumulated material on one ot said elemems a s )rin mem- 120 a motor driven shaft ol1 a table, a shaft 125 thin-eter, and transmission means connecting; said shafts inrlmling a carrier, rotative elements thereon, a llcxihlc member adapted to he wound to and trom said elements, and

,means automatieally to arrest said tahle in- 130 material ,on `one ofsaid elements adaptedzt orA eluding leans-operated by the 'accumulate-,L

press againstsaid table.

22. Ina honograph, the comliiinationl with a motor viven shaft of a table, a shaft t1ie1'efor,1and transmission means connecting said shafts. including a carrier, rotativg'xelements thereon, a flexible member adapted to be wound to, and.from said elements, and

meansv operatedbyv the accumulated material on one of said elements adapted to engage 4and arrest said table.

` 23. In a phonograpln'th'e combination with a motor driven shaft ofa table, a shaft therefor, and transmission means connecting said shafts including a carrier, rotative ele ments thereon, a flexible. member adapted` to be Wound to and from said elements, and' means'operated by the accumulated material on either of said elements to engage and arrest said table.

24. In a phonograph, the combination with a motor driven shaft of a table, a shaft therefor, and transmission means connecting said shafts including a carrier, rotative elelments thereon, a flexible member adapted to be Woundto and from said elements, and means including a yielding member operated by the accumulated material on either of said elements to arrest said table.

25. In a phonograph, the combination with a. motor driven shaft of a table, a shaft therefor, and transmission means connecting said 'shafts includinga carrier, rotative elcments thereon, a flexible member adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and means to adjust said carrier to play successive records including a shaft, cranlsthereon, an index member for rotating said shaft, a follower actuated by tape accumulated on said spools, a rod directly connecting said elements, followers for similar elements ful! crumed on said shaft in nested arrangement, and index lneans responsive to said followers for controlling theshifting of the carrier to play successive records.

27. In a phonograph, the combination with a motor driven shaft 5 of a table 87, ashaft 7 therefor, and transmission means connecting said shafts including -a carrier 9, rotative elements l5, 17 thereon, a flexible member 27 adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and means automatically to arrest said table including elements 71 for engagement with the coils of said member on sald spools, a lever 85, and a member 89 on said lever to engage said table.

` 28. In a phonograph, the combination with` a motor driven shaft 5 of a table driving shaft 7, and transmission means connecting said shafts including a carrier 2), rotative elements 15, 17 thereon, a flexible member 27 adapted to be wound to and from said elements, and brake means for said elements f including a lever 45, brake shoes 59, `Iand means G9 to press said shoes against said elements:

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

1 STANLEY It. MACLANE 

